Electrolytic dental cleansing apparatus



SPt- 20,' 1949- l R. E. lRTsH 2,482,486

` ELECTROLYTIC DENTAL CLEANSING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18,. 1945 INV ToR. IZ l Rassel] Ef tjs/2 l r' y BVMW wwA F l ATTORNEY;

Patented Sept. 20, 1949 as- Q; .1

Mv Usa 7 1 l-'J This 'invennoarentes an'dfsmall dental' andsurgical instruments".E

jfjTakin'g as exemplary orthodontic appliances Ynfd'"Y bridg-ework 'of removable f or" relatively iper-Jv marientv sort,l dental inlays? and Ythe "like `when suchappliances are removed for .adjustment and cleansing; I`or` simply `V'fcr 'cleans'ing; there isA ad= vantage in performingthe cleansing "operation, or atleast the initial stagesibff the "cleaning, by

electrolytic action?-l Thiisffisfvr because such fappliancesfand pieces-have @gathered V:such crust 'orv filml 'fof *organici matter 1 frequently overlying orvr mixealtvitn teamone-prod-ctsf'of 1the metalof.

theyhave bjeo'm'e unpleasant"andj uri/sanitary'.y

y y *n l tothe electrolytic 'cleanse ingandpolishin'gfof dental'piecesandiappliances Also f dentalinlays, castiibridgevvorky `and th'e like parts asP initially made, usually-carry oxidesi and? cru'stsV of 'for'eig'ii matterresultirig from the "meth-- od off vtheir production. i Suchl'crusts and films must be vremoved before the-*applianceor piece' can `lbe polished or sterilized. f The :removal however, extremely diiicultbecausefofiuthe ere.- sistance of the deposits to acids and bases;4 and because vtheir small,size"an delicacy offfundamentalstructure :on surface contour makes nie'-A`v ch'anical cleaning impractical.Vv fThi's dimculty'has existed in' such4 order. that' resortrcommonly has l been had 'to 'the lexpedient? of .bringingithem Ito y re'd'heat and immersing 'them momentarily ina' concentrated "mineral 'a'cidin' o'rdertof'cleanse theinWiThisfdisturbs the internal-structural Aar-pLv rangement' of vthe metal; f- I Electrolytic cleansing Vpresents a and: inorganic crusts and films',`- fand vtof, polish' thesurfa'ces' ofthe metal'part'sl This'fitcari dof without detriment to the 4tensile strengthforje- L siliency of thejmetal of whichtheparts ,arecom-W posed@ Whereas electrolyticcleansingrhas been.

wellgknown and successfully practicedon mas- It is an 'object of myinvntion tb p n: ideal f cleanse ing-faction on "delicate structures 'of this rsort, bef causev itis effective torem'ove crusts and sillmslofeI organic and .inorganic matten'orf imiXerd; organicv sive or `substantial bodies'y ofsmetal itghanslnot appstatus1 :fori 'the 'thorough deaning' eff" delicate dental" appliances, dental pieces yand thef Ylike Whiclrvvill perform fa cleansing operation; v'tli'ofroughlyena completely to neense the surfeees er'- suchJ parts Witliut e'lectrolytic removal of metal `In`ftl1`e accompanying drawings: K `Eig. I isa perspective View of a vessel for containing an electrolyticcleansing bath, said ves? sel being equipped'with electrodes formed and ar` ranged inaccordance with my invention.

"Ffig, II'is aA general assembly of apparatus "for" conducting thev method of my invention, showing 1 thejbath'vesselof Fig; I, a vessel for containin-g`r 2Q rinsing"v bath, 'and preferred means for de liv-"f'` ring current' to the -electrolyticbatn this View of the vdr'awingsbeing taken partlyv in Wlo'ngitudif nal sectionjand'partly in side elevationf" *Fi'gfIII is-"a'plan view of 'an anode madej'in" accordance with my invention for use asl an elei* I'ent i f vmy el-eotrolytic cleansing apparatusl IVis;^a si'de' elevation of such anode. 'Y Fia'. V isf'a' plan view'of the cathode forming4 tus fofy invention."

"fInitiallyit maybe explained that in niy electrolyticlleansing apparatus, the cleansing operationi'sj performed by supporting fthe part t be cleansed on the 'structure of thefanode in such' manner that it is directly subjected at short'range t'ov 'bombardment by Va f` great multitude Lof minute bubblesofff hydrogen liberated alt the cathodeof theV apparatus.' The initial cleansing, or looseningffof deposits, is-.thus'performed partly bythev chemical effect of the hydrogen in its action V4en greasesandotherorganic matter and the reduc"- tinfof Y oxidesf on the partv to' be cleansed, and'in pa'ritby thes'c'ouring effect of the great number of f mintehydrogen bubbles in tending to dislodge materials and reaction products from the surfaces ofr the 'part which is being cleansed. Under suit-:- able operating conditions my apparatus performs this operationrv without' any perceptible tendency electrolytically to remove metal from thelpart subjected tocleansing, or to deposit metal there# on.a Because'o'f the'small size and delicacy of thepartsubjedte'd to treatnlentv this feature is, of primaryrimportance. Y y

Myapparatus organization. comprises a bath vessel made ofmaterial which is non-conductive electrically:andwhich is resistant to the chemicara'ctin of thebath; the vessel desirably being as shown-oftransparent materialfsuch as glass orf'a transparent chemically resistant plastic,A so

that'theeprogre'ss 4`of the cleansing operationiis the drawings there is shown a pair of copper.v

oxide rectiers Ii. As a pref-erred adjunct of my A apparatus, one or more of such rectiflers, which are of well known sort, are used to provide direct' current of from about 5 to 15 volts and very 10W amperage from a standard 1l0 volt 60 cycle alternating house current, or to bring a D. C; house7 current to an equivalent value. The use of such; rectifier is convenient, but if requisite or desirable, a plurality of dry cells arranged in` Series may be .used

'Bearing in mind the small size and delicacy of the work-pieces and the necessity of presenting such pieces to the maximum effect of hydrogen from the cathode, I make my anode in the form.

of an open rack which will support the work in the bath of electrolyte in a position directly exposed to hydrogen liberated at the underlying cathode. Considered in detail, this anode rack is shown as composed of an annular rim I which embraces bars 8 extended inwardly therefrom. This Agives a roughly reticulate rack structure, which I have found suitable for supporting orthodontic appliances and most of the other dental pieces .the necessity for cleansing which occursv most frequently. If desired, however, the rack may be made of more closely meshed construction, and in fact of anyextended supporting structure which is sufficiently open to provide free upward passage of minute bubbles of .hydrogen liberated at the cathode. As shown, the cathode 5 is forked into three branching ribbons, one element IE of which extends centrally beneath the anode rack and two elements, II and I2, of which lie beneath or closely adjacent its rim. The branching ribbons of the cathode are adapted -to lie on the bottom of the vessel I, to provide a horizontally extended area for'the liberation of hydrogen.

It is thus apparent that the great multitude of minute bubbles of hydrogen from the cathode pass upward directly into contact with the workpiece supported by the closely spaced anode rack in such manner that there isnot only collection f of such minute bubbles on the work, but there is also an impingement effect, of bombardment, of the work-piece by the bubbles. Additionally, oxygen' liberated at the anode collects upon the work and probably performs a cooperative function in disintegrating the nlms and crusts which are to be removed from it.

' Inthe use cf my apparatus I obtain a thorough cleansing enect by using a relatively mild electro-V lyte, as well as a low voltage and amperage electric current. Any electrolytic bath which is to be considered as mild in the art may be used `at about room temperature. As exemplary of such baths I may give one composed of three volumes of' a 10% Water solution of sulphuric acid, and one volume of a saturated water solution of trisodium-phosphate, desirably with the addition of about drops of a saturated water'solution of sodium-hydroxide to each drams of the com bined sulphuric acid and trisodium phosphate to give direct'currentof low value. e

4 solution. Using an electrolyte of the sort thus typified and a current of the indicated low value, the usual duration of cleansing treatment is less than one minute but the work-piece may remain in the electrolytic bath for much longer periods without any bad result. The action is not of a sort to require rapid removal of the parts subjected to the cleansing treatment in order to limit or` prevent destructive effects on them. After the electrolytic treatment I; desirably agitate the work-piece in a rinsing bath consisting of a satur'ated water solution of trisodium phosphate in .e the. second vessel. I3 shown in Fig. 11 of the supported Aby suspension in drawings,V definitely to remove any Y the .anode intersectingly to overlie the ribbons deposits which have been disintegrated but not physically removed by the electrolytic bath.

, It S 0f c0urse, `possible so to construct the anode that the rack forming part of it is suitably close vertically spaced relation to the cathode. The electrodes being, however, preferably made of platinum because of its resistance to the dissolving effect of the electrolytic bath, both the electrodes desirably are of.

light construction to lessen therefore, to obtain construction while closely and accurately spacing the anode from .the cathode to avoid direct contact between them, rality of spider legs which are outwardly and downwardly extendedfrom the rack structure of their cost. In order.

the anode to .contactthe bottom of the vesseland denitely -andclosely tospacethe anode inV overlying position with 4respectto the cathode.I As shown, thereare two spiderlegs, I4 and I5, divergently extended from II and II2 of the cathode, and to contact the bottom of the vessel-outwardly therebeyond. A third spider` leg 9 liesin `approximate vertical align--I ment'with the'central ribbon I6 of the cathode. and has in its downward projection an offset portion I6 which extends to the bottom of the vessell without making direct contact with strucure.

The formation of the anode of the electrolytic.

bath assembly in the form of a rack closely overlying the 'horizontally extended cathode gives the desired effect'of subjecting the entire surface of the work-piece to the effect of hydrogen rising from the cathode. I do not know to what extent suchnascent hydrogen may change from its ionic form to thev form of minute bubbles on the' work-piece directly subjected to an upper cur-- rent 'ofthe hydrogen so close to the cathode. I do, however, know that Iam able to observe intheb'ath'profuse streams Vof very minute hydrogen bubbles; which as the passage of the current proceeds become so profuse as to give the entire areal of. electrolyte in the region of the electrodesV a milky appearance. Apparently thus the cleans-- ing action which involves disintegration of the deposits on the parts to be cleansed is effected primarily by direct subjection of the work to this' profuse stream. of' minute hydrogen bubbles. As

has been explained, this action effects the desired cleansing Operation in such manner that the work-piece is cleansed. and in measure polished, without loss of anyappreciable quantity of the metal of which it is composed. Also there is no loss of the structural strength of that metal. My apparatus thus .provides for the electrolytic cleansing of small delicate work-pieces ina manner impossible by previous methods of heatingand'dipping; and which have been impossible in the Aeconomy of such lightpreferably I provide a. plu--` the rack structure ofthe cathodel Vperage D. C. circuit, the said anode other attempts electrolytically to clean workpieces of like sort.

Having described one apparatus embodiment exemplary of my invention, I wish it to be understood that various modications in the form and. arrangement of the parts and in adjunct instrumentalities may be made withoutr going beyond the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

' I claim as my'invention:

` 1. Apparatus `for electrolytically cleansing small delicate work-pieces comprising an electrically non-conductive electrolyte-containing vessel, an anode and a cathode both composed of platinum connected in a low-voltage and lowamperage D. C. circuit, the said anode beinghorizontally arranged to overlieA the said cathode in an electrolyte bath in the saidfvessel, the said cathode being formed as an open horizontally arranged structure to include an extended horizontal area for liberation of hydrogen at the bot'n tom of said vessel and the said anode comprising an open rack structure arranged to expose the surface of a work-piece supported thereby directly to contact with an upward ow of hydrogen Vliberated at the cathode and said anode including legs extended horizontally from the rack l structure of the anode overlying the structure of the cathode and extended downwardly out of contact with said cathode structure into contact with the non-conductive bottom of the vessel.

2. Apparatus for electrolytically cleansing small delicate work-pieces, comprising an electrically non-conductive electrolyte containing vessel, an anode and cathode both composed of platinum connected in a low-voltage and low-am being arranged to overlie the said cathode in an electrolyte bath in the said vessel, the said cathode being formed terminally as a plurality ofribbons including a horizontally extended area Vfor liberation of hydrogen at the bottom of said vessel,

and the said anode comprising an open rack Y.

structure and a plurality of legs extended outwardly andY downwardly therefrom to contact the non-conductive bottom of the vessel out of contact with the structure of the said cathode.

3. Apparatus for electrolytically cleansing small delicate work-pieces comprising an electrically non-conductive electrolyte containing vessel, an anode and a cathode connected in a low-voltage and low-amperage D. C. circuit, the said anode being horizontally arranged to overlie the said cathode in an electrolyte bath in the said Vessel, the said anode and cathode both being composed of a metal resistant tofthe dissolving effect of the electrolyte bath, the said cathode being formed as an open horizontally arranged structure to include an extended horizontal area for liberation of hydrogen at the bottom of said vessel Yand the saidanode comprising an open` rack structure arranged to expose the surface of a work-piece supported thereby directly to contact with an upward ow of hydrogen liberated at the cathode and said anode including legs extended horizontally from the rack structure of the anode overlying the structure of the cathode and extended downwardly out of contact with said cathode structure into contact with the non-conductive bottom of the Vessel.

4. Apparatus for electrolytically cleansing small delicate work-pieces comprising an electrically non-conductive electrolyte-containing vessel, an anode and a cathode connected in a lowvoltage and loW-amperage D. C. circuit, the said anode beingy horizontally' arranged to overlie the said cathode in an electroyte bath in the said vessel, the said anode and cathode both being composed of a metal resistant to the dissolving effect of the electrolyte bath, the said cathode being formed terminally to include va horizontally extended area for liberation of hydrogen at the bottom of said vessel but overlying less than the entire area of the said bottom, and the said anode comprising an open rack structure and including legs extended horizontally and downwardly therefrom out of contact with said cathode and into contact with the non-conductive bottom of the Vessel. Y

. RUSSELL E. IRISH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED sTA'rns PATENTS Number Name Date 349,535 Sohner Sept.21, 1886 569,877 Flower July 28, 1896 1,234,319 Euler July 24, 1917 1,902,390 Wormley Mar. 21, 1933 1,917,022 Dunn July 4, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Industrial Electrochemistry, by Mantell;

McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New York, 1931; pages and 111. Y 

